Adding Computers

Adding Computers

Computers can be added with Active Directory Sync, by browsing Active Directory, with Network Discovery, or manually by Name (Enterprise mode required for Active Directory Sync and Network Discovery). When computers are added to your database, they are automatically scanned using the Default Scan Profile.

Add Computers with Active Directory - Sync

Active Directory Sync is the preferred method for adding computers with Active Directory because it can be configured to automatically sync computers on a schedule to capture future changes made in AD (Enterprise mode required). Set global options for Active Directory Sync on the Active Directory page in Preferences.

3.Select the frequency of the sync with Sync Every; the default is every hour.

4.Select the appropriate Delete Mode from the following:

a.Import Only (no delete): Computers deleted (or disabled) from Active Directory will not be deleted from the PDQ Inventory database. They must be manually deleted. (Default delete mode)

b.Mixed Sync (do not delete computers not part of sync): Computers that are included in a container and added to the database, but then deleted from Active Directory, will be deleted from the PDQ Inventory database as well. Computers that are added manually to the PDQ Inventory database will not be deleted automatically and must be deleted manually.

c.Full Sync (delete all computers not part of your sync): Deletes all computers from the PDQ Inventory database that aren't in one of the Include containers, including computers that were added manually or via another source. Use this option to make PDQ Inventory mirror your Active Directory Containers exactly.

5.(Optional) Click Sync Disabled Computers to sync computers which are disabled in Active Directory (this is unchecked by default).

6.Click Include Container to add your domain(s) to the database.

7.In the Select Include Container window:

a.(Optional) To switch to a different domain, click Change Domain.

b.(Optional) Click Include Sub-Tree to display sub-trees (selected by default).

c.Browse AD containers.

d.Select a container, then click OK to add it to the database.

e.If you have multiple domains, repeat as needed.

8.(Optional) To exclude containers, click Exclude Container, then follow the sub-steps as shown in step 4.

7.An existing Network Discovery can be resumed, aborted, paused, restarted, and even deleted from this page. To perform one of these actions, select the discovery from the list and click the appropriate button . To start a new discovery, click the New Discovery button . Additionally, the the columns for Elapsed Time and Started are hidden by default but can be added to the grid by clicking the Customize this Grid button .

NOTE: The Network Discovery Status window can also be opened from the Welcome to PDQ Inventory page.

Add Computers by name

Computers can be added by name. You can type the names of the computers, copy and paste names directly in the computer list, or import lists of computers.

To add computers by name:

1.On the Main Console window, click Add Computers > By Name on the toolbar (or click Computer > Add Computers > By Name).

PDQ Inventory attempts to resolve the names of the computers you add using the current Windows network configuration (DNS is preferred). The full names provided by this process will be used, usually FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Names). Computers resolved by DNS appear with a green checkmark .

NOTE: If the computer name can’t be resolved, a warning icon with a More Info link displays under Host Name. Check the name you typed and try it again. If you still can’t add a computer manually, click the More Info link for additional help. Click Remove (or press Delete) to delete unresolved computer names from the list.

4.(Optional) To add computers from a text file, click Import, browse to and select a file, then click Open.

Import files must be formatted as follows:

File Format

Description

.txt (plain text)

One computer name per line.

.csv (comma-separated values or CSV)

The computer name must be the first item of each line (or column).

TIP: You can also copy and paste a list of computers (for example, from an email or a spreadsheet file) into the Add Computer window. Select and copy the list in the source, click the computer list, then press Ctrl+V or right-click and select Paste.